Means for pointing guns.



Patented Aug. l, I899.

D. FBUESWT.

MEANS FOR POINTING sums.

(Application filed June 18, 1897.)

l5 SheetsSheet I.

(No Model.)

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N0. 630,2". Patented Aug. I, I899. D. FRUISSART.

MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS.

(Application filed June 18, 1897.)

I5 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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Patented Aug. I, I899.

D. FROISSART.

MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS. I

(Application filed June 18, 1897.)

I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 (No Mudl.)

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Patented Aug. I, I899.

0. FBDISSAHT. MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS.

(Application filed June 18, 1897.)

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MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS.

(Application filed June 18, 1897.)

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Patented Aug. I, I899.

l5 Sheets$haet 5,

. No. 630,2". Patented Aug. I, I899.

D. FROISSABT. MEANS FOB'POINTING GUNS.

(Application filed June 18, 1897.

I5 Sheets Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. I, I899. D. FRUIS SART. MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS.

l5 Sheets-Sheet 7,

(Application filed Tune 18, 1897.) {No Model.)

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D. FHOISSART,

MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS. (Application filed June 18, 1897.)

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Patented Aug. I, I899.

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Patented Aug. I, I899.

0. FROISSART. MEANS FoR POINTING Guns.

(Application filed June 16, i897.

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N0. 630,2". Patented Aug. I, I899.

'D. FRUISSART.

MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS.

(Application filed June 18, 1897.)

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N0. 630,2". Patented Aug. I899. D. FRUISSART.

MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS.

(Application filed June 18, 1897,)

I5 sheets sh eet II.

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS PETERS co. wovaumo, WASHINGTON, o. c.

No. 630,2". Patented Aug. l, I899.

D. FRDISSART.

MEANS FOR PUINTING GUNS.

(Application filed June 18, 1897.)

I5 Sheets-Sheet l2.

(No Model.)

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No. 630,2". Patented Aug. I, I899.

D. F'ROISSART.

MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS. (Application filed June 18, 1897.)

No Model.) I5 Sheets-S M13.

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Patented Aug. l I899.

D. FROISSART.

MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS.

(Application filed June 18, 1897.)

I5 Sheets-Sheet [4,

m: uoams PETERS co. Photo-Lumen wnsnmcron. u. c.

No. 630,2". Patented Aug. l, I899.

D. FBOISSART.

MEANS FOR POINTING GUNS.

(Application filed June 18, 1897.) (N o M 0d a l I5 SheetsS heef l5.

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Unwrap States PATENT Fries,

DAMAS 'rnoissAn'r, OF DO'UAI, cannon.

I MEANS FOR POlNTlNG GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,211, dated August 1, 1899.

Application filed June 18. 1897. Serial No. 641,301. (No model.)

To all whmn it DUI/y concern:

Be it known that I, DAMAS FROISSART, a citizen of France, residing at Douai, in the Department of the North, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Pointing of Guns, of which the following is a specification.

- Ever since the adoption of smokeless powder and quick-firing guns it has been sought to turn to account the surface undulations and irregularities of the field of battle in the best possible manner in order that theartillery may fire while being screened from the enemys view. The existing methods of covert firing, in which the gun-layer is unable to sight the object or target, are complicated; also, they do not admit of a moving target being followed up or of the fire of a number of pieces of ordnance being made to converge precisely to one point from the very outset. it is therefore desirable that means should be provided by which the gun-layer can aim at the target direct, even though the guns fired should be out of the enemys sight. In the use of field artillery of the presentday when the field-pieces have been brought up to a line of the ground calculated to secure for them the maximum concealment from the enemys iew consistent with direct pointing the gun-carriages are usually unlimbered at a sufficient distance in the rear of the riseof ground to prevent being seen, the guns being moved forward by hand sul'liciently far to enable them to be aimed at the target over the crest.' This is a slow and imperfect method and when accomplished and while it is in progress inadequately shields the proceeding from hostile observation.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide simple means whereby the guns may be accurately aimed from apoint wholly concealed from the target or object aimed at without materially increasing either the weight of the gun or gun-carriage. It is my object, in other words, to combine Withafieldgun or other piece of artillery mounted upon wheels, to enable-it to be transported from place to place, an auxiliary or sighting gun of anysuitable form and dimensions, and to support the same, together with all the apparatus employed in aiming or sighting the gun at a distant target, the construction being suclr Fig. 1.

that these sighting attachments may be raised at any moment to a suitable height above the unliinbered piece and the proper elevation and direction of the latter obtained, provision being made whereby the person who accomplishes this may be raised, sustained, or lowered with the auxiliary gun, all adjustments given to the latter being imparted to the piece upon the gu n-carriage proper in either of two ways-first, by the person who sights the auxiliary gun communicating to the gunner or to those serving the gun proper the readings from a level-gage and goniometer, or, second, by communicating to the gun proper the several adjustments as to elevation or' depresg sion in theinanner presently explained. is my purpose also to remove all the aiming or sighting devices from the gun itself to a separate support capable of ready elevation and depression and of the necessary sighting adjustments and so combined with the gun itself that the adjustments of the sightingpiece can be communicated to the gun.

My invention also comprises other novel and useful features, allof which will be fully described hereinafter and then particularly pointed out and defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

To enable those skilled in the art to which tached and raised into the position shown in" Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. dis a side elevation showing amodified construction Whereby the supporting-frame may be contracted in height. same parts, the ensof the sighting-piece being broken away to expose the gun beneath. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a field-gnu equipped with my invention and shown in full lines as being disconnected from. and in Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the ing the same parts.

dotted lines as being connected with-its limber, the construction being such as to enable a light form of sighting-piece to be elevated to different heights above the gun. Fig. 7'is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 9 isa side elevation showing a modified construction. Fig. 10 isa rear elevation of the par-ts showh in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the same, Fig. 12 is a side elevation showing a construction for taking a rearward sight. Fig. 13 is a side elevation showing an apparatus limbered up. Fig. 14 is a similar view elevation, upon a larger scale, showing the sighting apparatus.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 18 is a rear elevation show- Fig. 19 is a detail side elevation showing a modification. Fig. 20 is a'rear elevationthereof. Fig. 21 is a transverse scction upon the line A B in Fig. 18.

It should be clearly understood that I do not limit my invention to a sighting-piece or auxiliary gun having a shape similar to that of an actual gun, as I may adopt any form, the term auxiliary gun being merely an arbitrary designation. I have shown several different forms of this device and may use any that is suitable for the purpose in View.

The sighting-piece is supported by a light framework, (indicated by the numerals 1 and 2,) which also carries all the parts which perform any function in pointing the gun. The bars 1 and 2 are hinged or connected pivotally to the ends of pieces 4 and 5, which are at right angles to the axis of the gun and rigidly mounted on it.

The sighting-piece is provided with two graduated quadrant scales (conveniently indicated in Fig. 1 and shown in detail in other figures, which are referred to hereinafter) in order that the person who points the gun may take position at either end of the latter, so that he may either put the gun in battery or aim and fire it.

The supports 1 and 2 are provided with joints 1 2 to enable the sighting devices to be elevated to different pointsabove the gun, as shown in Figs. 6, 8, 9, and 10.

The sighting devices consisteither of an auxiliary gun-shaped device 7, as in Fig. 9, with breech-sight and front sight, or a horizontal gonioineter may be substituted, with a leveling-scale. The sighting-piece 7 is upon a pivotal axis 10, parallel with the axes of the trunnions of the gun and connected to the supports1 and 2 by bars 8, having hinge connections 9. The arrangement is.such that the supports 1 2 may be arranged by the gunners seated on the limber either in an upright position, at an angle, or horizontally without the necessity of stopping the carriage. To this end shrouds or stay-wires 11 are attached to suitable portions of the supports and to cables 12, which, with two blocks13 form a pair of tackles. The cable is wound upon a winch 14:, mounted on the limher. By means of this winch and cable the supports can be raised and lowered and can be maintained' in an inclined or in vertical position by means of a ratchet and dctent to prevent the Windlass from turning. (See Fig. 6.)

The lower ends of the supports 1 and 2 are connected to the trunnions of the gun 6,. as

shown in Fig. 9, to the wheel-axle, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, or to bars etand 5, which are parallel to the wheel-axle, as in Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 12. This connection may be direct or by means of sleeves 15, having eyes or rings 16, surrounding the ends of the trunnions, or of the bars 4 and 5 or the axle, as seen in Figs. 6, 7, and 10.

The pivots on which the supports are mounted may be either rigidly fixed to the gun, as are the ordinary trunnions, or they may consist of trunnions formed on a collar fitted on the gun with suitable friction.

The distance between the two supports of each pair of supports is regulated according to the height of the supports, so as to give the necessary stability to each pair of supports in the transverse direction.- This stability may be increased by the employment of retaining-cables, such as 17 and 18, secured to the extended pivots, or by providing the supports with broad lower hinges, whereby a pyramidal shape will be given to the supports, as shown in Fig. 2 In the'case of the latter arrangement the four supports are arranged in pairs, so as to form two broad-based supports only. In order to secure equal rigidity where the supports are erected separately, it

, is necessary to provide, in addition to the piv ots or spindles which connect the ends of each pair of support-s, intermediate tie-rods, such as 19, which may facilitate access to the auxiliary gun and pointing instruments.

' In Fig. 12 the gun-person sighting the gun is shown astride of the auxiliary gun, looking toward the breech, the position being suitable for arranging the battery, and the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, with his face turned toward the muzzle, being assumed when the guns are unlimbered and ready for firing. A strap 20 protects him in eithercase and keeps him from falling.

In Figs. 9,10, and 11 in order to give ready access to the sighting-piece 7 the pivots 9 of the supporting-frame are bent or cranked, as shown, and to render the structure sufficiently rigid a circular frame or hoop 21 is provided,

the object is to conceal from view the limberhoisted byany suitable means to the sightinggunners and the mounted men; 'but'it may be deemed preferable either before or after placing the gun in battery to reduce the height of the supports by adopting some convenient method for folding them-such, for example, as is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 14.

The sighting-piece shown in the drawings is supposed to be constructed of wood and is merely a skeleton structure admitting of infinite variation in practice. The accessory parts may also be varied almost indefinitely. For example, the detachable cylindrical lance-shaped posts 25 and 26, Figs. 2 and 4, may be replaced by a frame like that represented in Figs. 16 and 18, which would in that case be supported by the sighting-piece 7; also, the supporting-bars 8 of the pointing apparatus may have a breech-sight 23 and a front sight 24,. as in Figs. 9 and 10,. which is less cumbersome than the gun 7, with its breech-sight 25 and its front sight 26.

When the guns are unlimbered and the pivoted supports adjusted, as shown, for instance, in Figs. 6, 7, 9, and 10, the cables 11, hooked onto one of the sheave-blocks 13, as shown, should be taken off such block and connected to some yielding tie or connection, such as a frame 27, which carries the brakeshoes 27 of the wheels, and the sheave-block is detached from the chain 28, connected to the end of the trail. The gun-carriage may now be separated from the limber. The cable 12,which is to a great extent wound upon the winch let, is thus taken along by the limber, to which it remains inseparably attached.

\Vhen the gun is fired, the recoil causes the cables 11 at first to be but very moderately stretched and then to be drawn very tightly in the forward direction, the result being that the brake-shoes are pressed hard against the wheels of the gun-carriage and the recoil is proportionally checked, while the supports aremaintained in their position by the elastie pull exercised upon them. Forcounteracting the strain of the cables ll cables 29 are secured by one end to the pivoted supports and at their other ends either to the front of the gu n-carriage or to the splinter-bar thereof, these cables serving to limit the extent to which the whole structure is movable in the rearward direction. The cables 29 may be tightened, as required, by means of a winch 30, provided with a ratchet-wheel and pawl. Springs may be interposed between the cables 11 and 29 and their points of attachment, so as still further to reduce the shocks at the time of firing and at the moment when the recoil of the gun-carriage ceases.

In order to reduce the strain upon the cables 11, there may be interposed resilient cross-cables, such as the cable 31, Figs. 2 and 12, between the front and rear supports 1 and 2.

After the object to be aimed at has been pointed out to the gunner upon whom devolves the duty of pointing the gun, he'ig piece 7 and he proceeds to put in place one of the pointing instruments which are used in pointing or training the actual gun. If he be ordered to take the battery position, he will gradually elevate the system of pivoted supports until, looking through the pointing'device, he discovers the object to be aimed at. If a defilading fire at a given height be required, he will straighten out the framework into the upright position as far as may be necessary to raise the sighting-piece to the desired elevation. He next causes the gun-carriage to move forward in the manner herein- If the elevation of the auxiliary gun above I the ground should be equal to or exceed that of the eyes of the limber-gunners, these gunners may be hidden from the enemys observa tion while the guns are being placed in position for firing without any necessity of unlimbering such guns at any considerable distance from the crest or parapet, as is necessary ordinarily in bringing guns into position for action in a cautious manner.

To point the gun 6', the gunner operates the sighting-piece 7 by means of the pointinghandle of the real gun, which in that'case should be worked by an assistant gunner. For sighting as to elevation an ordinary levelgage used in pointing will be suflicient. After firing the sighting-piece may be pointed for the shots to be fired next, either direct or by reference to the angle measured off on the sighting instrument. It then only remains to adjust the horizon-angle which has been previously measured.

It is the intention that, whatever position be given to either the real gun outhe sightingpiece, they shall always be in parallelism one to the other. This function is illustrated in Figs. 2, 13, and 14, and from these it will readily be understood that an elevation or depression oi the muzzle of either piece when in the position shown in Fig. 2 will be accompanied by a corresponding elevation or .de-

It all the guns in battery be provided with:

2. sightingpiece of this description, all of them will consequently be pointed in the manner described both as to height and direction. Should any of the guns not be provided with such apparatus, the Work may be conducted in the same way as is usually, done in firing in the :open couiitry where the object aimed at is concealed by certain bodies intervening-4n other words, the angles which the sighting instruments, (such as the goniometer and pointing lcvel-gage,) placed under the sighting-piece previously enabled to be measured in the manner above stated, may be utilized in pointing the guns.

The effect of connecting the guns 6 and 7 together is that the gun 6 is pointed as to elevation at an angle that suits the sightingpiece 7that is to say, at a conventional angle--being the sum of the angle of table fi'ring and the angle of the site "of the object viewed from the top of the sighting-piece. At ordinary fighting distance the angle of the site of the sighting-piece 7 and that of the real gun 6 d fers but little; but their difference increases as the supports are elevated and the nearer the gun is to the object. The frame or supports carrying the piece 7, as shown in Fig. 1, may then be reduced to the condition of a plane figure-say rectangle or trapezium, such as is shown at E F E F, the side EF of which is mounted either upon the trunnion of the gun or upon the axle of the gun-carriage, or, indeed, upon any axis or shaft parallel to the wheel-axle of the real gun X Y. The piece X Y may then be reduced to the form of afl-anged trunnion,which may be swung at will about the axes E F parallel to E F without the direction of a finder perpendicular to such axes discontinuing to be parallel to the vertical plane coinciding with the axes X Y. By expanding the said flange and making it thinner and by bring-ing its edge to a horizontal (or nearly horizontal) position the advantage is secured of making the direction of a goniometer thereon very convenient and of affording readier access thereto to the gunner who is called upon to make use of such flange. This arrangement is carried into effect in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. There is here shown the range-finder 32 of a goniometer, which may be of anysuitable construction; but by wayof illustration" I have assumed that it takes the shape of .a

' hoop, from which there projects vertically a by directing the line of sight mentioned above toward the object or target.

The sighting-piece may be'reduced'to the form seen in Figs 16, 17, 18, and 19,inwhich it takes the form of a bracket 33, which is sercured to the top of one of the supports 1 or? and has bearing on one of the pivots 9 or 10, having their axes parallel to the trunnionaxes of the gun. This bracket 83 carries a combined case and support for the pointing instrument 23 at right angles to the said pivot 9 or 10, and a goniometer placed in position within such case enables either the pointing in the horizontal direction or the verticalsighting of the gun 6 to be effected at will.

If the support 1 be done away with and the bracket 33 be transferred to the stand 2, then the cables or stay-wires l1 and 29, Fig. 16, fitted with springs, are provided to take up the shock in firing, and which invariably restore such support to a substantially vertical position, the same as in the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and the result will also be attained if the said support, instead of being pivoted direct and firmly fixed upon its spindle, be a removable support entel-ing a sleeve (such as 15, Figs. 9, l0, and 11) constructed separately from such support and pivoted to the spindle 5.

In the disk 35, forming an extension of the support 1, where is a notch 38, a similar-notch being provided on the opposite side of the support, a hinged jaw is arranged to grip the said support by engaging this double notch, and as the bottom of the groove forms an incline on either side the gripping force of the said jaw will be the greater the more the support is inclined toward the front, so that it will form an effectual brake.

It will readily be understood that while I have described an arrangement which owing to certain link connections and resilient cables enables pointing and sighting instruments to be elevated at will to any desired height-i. a, to about 1.50 meters-I include any support by which the devices may be permanently elevated toa less height, should the length of the supports permit of the employment of an elastic metal in their construction or any arrangement for reducing the effect of percussion on the parts of the gun, permitting of stationary or fixed supports being employed.

My invention consists, essentially, in providing intermediary elevated mechanism between the gun (or the gun-carriage) and the pointing instruments with a view to rendering direct masked pointing possible under conditions which would render this impracticable if no such elevation had been effected.

The sighting-piece enables the gunner, who makes use of it at the usual fightingdistance, to give the field-guns operated from behind some parapet or breastwork a position very nearly identical with that which they would take up-if they were used in direct pointing.

IIO

pieces to the desired height and to maintain and-sustained by means of flexible cables and them at or restore them tosuch height either on the march or when in position for firing must be varied as required, dependent upon the length of the said supports. In some cases these supports maybe erected by hand winches, such as hereinbefore described.

The pointing instruments may be of any suitable construction, and the means for en abling thegunner to have ready access to these instruments may be varied as required. My object is to elevate the said instruments under such conditions as will enable the gunner to perform on the sighting piece all the operations of pointing and sighting which he would have to carry out had he to deal with an ordinary gun on the ground. In the few examples given here I have suggested how my improved structure described as an auxiliary gun may be made to furnish the gunner with such means of access and points of support as he may require in order to com- "mand an easy and convenient position; but

the arrangement which Ihave indicated, and

in particular theframe 21 of the cage or platform, is solely intended for supporting pointmg instruments used in the artillery, and I therefore by no means desire to claim it as a 'medium for observation for any other pun poses.

What I claim is'-- 1. In a sighting apparatus for field artil- 1ery, the combination with a gun-carriage and gun thereon of a sighting-piece adapted to be raised above said gun and in parallel line therewith, and a supporting-frame formed of two rigid and parallel parts one part having its ends pivotally connected to the sightingpiece at or uearthe rear end of the latter,

and to the gun in the line of its trunnionaxes, and the other part of said frame being pivotally connected at its ends to the muzzle portionsof said gun and sighting-piece, substantially as described.

2. In asighting apparatus for artillery, the

combination with a gun and gun-carriage of a jointed supporting-frame,haviug pivotal bearings parallel with the axes of the gun-.

trunnions, sights mounted on said frame, and means for raising and lowering said frame, substantially as described.

3. In a sighting mechanism for artillery, the combination with a gun and gun-carriage of a supporting-frame having pivotal .bearings parallel with the gun-trunnions, sights mounted on said frame, means for raising the latter to a suitable height above the gun, and a con nection between said frame and brakelevers on the gun-carriage, whereby the recoil of the piece will set the brakes and at the same time support the frame, as described.

4. In a sighting mechanism for field artillery, the combination with a gun-carriage and gun mounted thereon, of a sighting-piece consisting of a part similar 'in form to the gun, a supporting-frame for said sighting-piece consisting of two rigid and parallel members, one having pivotal connection at its lower end to the gun in the line of itstrunnion-axes, and at its other end to the breech portion of the sighting-piece, and the other and parallel member having its ends pivotally connected to the muzzle portions of said gun and sighting-piece, and sighting devices arranged upon the latter, the gun and sighting-piece being parallelwith each other, as described. I g

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. DAMAS FROISSAR'I. Witnesses:

PAUL CAHUZ-AC, PAUL MAHAcHn.

substantially substantially 

